Modern Day Idols

We may think of idol worship as something ancient people did with items made from stone or wood. That they created their own deities that gave them the things that they desired. We know this happened in the past, quite literally. But there were demonic entities behind those idols just as there are demonic influences behind today's idols. Johnathan Kahn has a wonderful book out called "Return of the Gods" which goes into the demonic entities behind those idols as well as how they operate in our lives today. This topic has been exploding in popularity recently because people are actually beginning to wake up to the deception that we've been spoon-fed for multiple generations.

Some of my favorite pastors have entire series of sermons about this topic and how to not be deceived by these enemies. I won't steal their thunder, but I do encourage you to look up Mark Driscoll, Real Men, Trinity Church and have a good listen. I would encourage you to look up Jack Hibbs, Real Life, and his new book, "Living in the Daze of Deception. If at any point you'd like to hear me read these books, feel free to message me and let me know. I have no problem making a video and putting it on our Facebook page or my husband's new you tube channel.

Let's dive right in.

Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before Me." This is the first of the infamous 10 commandments given to Moses. My Bible commentary says, "God's character inspires and demands loyalty. The believer demonstrates loyalty by worshipping the One and only true God. Verses 4-6 go onto to say, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image-any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them nor serve them, For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands to those who love Me and keep My commandments."

Deuteronomy 6:14 states, "You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you." You may say, "Oh, but that was the Old Testament... People don't worship carved images anymore." Are you so sure??

Colossians 3: 5-7 "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them." We are to focus our interests and ambitions heavenward, casting away specific vices and cultivating certain virtues. Sins of self-indulgence, attitude, speech, and prejudice of mind must be put to death once and for all. If we are guilty of these things, we are holding ourselves up before God. We are worshipping self, our own human nature.

Romans 1:22-23: "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things."

Our Identity

One of the biggest things we have abandoned in these times is our personal identity in Christ. We've instead placed our identity in other things. Social media following, your position at work, your own skills or abilities, your achievements. We have our identity wrapped up things we do instead of who we should be in Him.

Money and Material Things

This is a big one. It was big 2,000 years ago too. People tend to place their trust in what they can financially procure for themselves. They put their trust in money and all it can buy them. There are many wealthy people who have everything materialistically, but are sad, broken, alone, and without hope. Money and things can get you attention, but for how long? Will it satisfy your soul?

Job or Status

Back in the day your job was just a way to provide for the needs of your family. In today's culture, it has become something that defines us and worse, makes some think they are better than others because of their degreed status. This reminds me of the rich man and Lazarus. He was too important to help the beggar at his gate, but in Hades, he begged Abraham to send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue because of the agony of the fire. And further begged to send Lazarus to his family to warn them so they wouldn't have to come to this place of torment. But alas...it didn't happen. (Luke 16:19-31)

Physical Appearance

I have to admit, I have been convicted of this one myself. We spend hours in the gym trying to get the perfect body. We spend thousands on products that claim to make us look more beautiful. We have surgeries to change our appearance, correct certain imperfections we think we have. We do this because in ourselves, we aren't happy unless others think we're beautiful. We place utmost importance of how others see us. When we do this, we place more stock on what man thinks than what God thinks. We worship our human form.

Entertainment

Netflix, podcasts, social media, vacations. Americans spend up to 7 hours a day on their phone needing to be entertained. There is almost no such thing as peace and quiet because we've trained our brains to operate based on background noise. When we do this we can't hear God trying to speak to us. We drown him out with what we're listening to. Not only that, but what about devotion time, reading time, prayer time; they all take a backseat to what the Kardashians are doing, or who's dating who. We go on vacations supposedly to rest, but how often do we get there and want to fall back into the same habit of being on the phone.

Sex

We have taken a gift of God and turned it into a god. For many, their lives are controlled by it. To question the sexual ethic in our society brings outrage and defensiveness, thereby showing just how connected to our idol we actually are. Our sexual identity, sexual practices, and sex fueled lives are sacred to us.

The church as a whole may have some part of blame in this. Rather than portraying sex as a good gift from God (within the confines of a God ordained marriage), they have heaped guilt and shame. You could argue that this is one of the factors that drove our over exaggerated desire for sex.

Comfort

There are endless lists of products out there promising to make your lives easier and more comfortable than at any other time in recorded history! Our main pursuit in life should not be for comfort alone. The call that Jesus gives His followers is a life of calling, not primarily of comfort. How many times was Paul imprisoned??? Wasn't John boiled alive in a vat of oil? Does that sound comfortable to you? Jesus' followers will face trials, persecution, and difficulties Comfort can become damaging when it becomes one's main pursuit in life. When comfort is an idol, we struggle when God calls us to do something difficult.

Technology

How often do you reach for your phone, look at your apple watch, or search up frivolous things online. Do we really need 5 packages from amazon weekly? If you are currently holding your phone, quickly go to settings, then screen time and check just how long you've been on your phone today. Phones and technology don't have to be a problem, it's the value that we place on them and the time that we give them that makes it a problem.

Family, Children

I have been guilty of this one too! We have a tendency to worship the gifts we've been given instead of honoring the Giver of those gifts first. We should place our families in the proper place. They are invaluable and precious to us, but are still to come second to our God, our Father who bought us with the precious blood of His only Begotten (Natural) Son. We literally owe Him every single breath we take. Without Him, we wouldn't even be able to breathe! That's powerful! But you know, if we honestly want what's best for those we love, we will place God first and demonstrate that to them every day. That teaches them to do the same. Monkey see, monkey do.

Influence, Fame

I have held the position of Brand Ambassador, Fitness Model, for 3 online companies. In the time that I held those positions, my own values were put to the back burner. That sounds horrible, but it was an issue. I could not feel comfortable trying to lure potential buyers to the sites by modeling workout clothing. It made me appear a way I didn't want to appear. I still stand by those companies for the quality of their materials, but I can't in good conscience show my body with the short, revealing, tight clothes online.

Since the advent of social media, almost anyone can become famous and gain influence. All it takes is one viral video and you can have thousands of viewers. Past generations are more prone to jobs and social status. Younger generations are more drawn to fame and influence. This has inevitably led to endless chases, creating another modern-day idol.

If I gain one reader, or one group member, or one random stranger I share Jesus with, it's gotta be for Him. Hands down. Who am I to parade myself about for financial gain? No, Any likes, any shares, any readers, or followers, I wanna lead them to Him, not for my glory, but for His Kingdom and for their souls. I'm a sinner saved by grace through faith in Jesus and what He actually did for me when He died on the cross. When He claimed me for His own, I had to die, so He could rise up and work through me. If I'm not fully submitted to Him, I'm susceptible to all of these items and worse.

I'll end with a few questions. Have a good think about them. The answers just may be your own modern-day idols. If it is, I implore you to search your heart and repent of your idolatry. Fall in love with God. He loves you, and there is none greater. Have no other gods before Him.

1. Where do I spend my time?

2. Where do I spend my money?

3. Where do I get my joy?

4. What's always on you mind?

Be blessed by being a blessing,

-Alisha Fraire